This month, Marijuana Marketing Xperts sat down with Arizona’s Desert Rose Dispensary Marketing Director Jennifer Littell. In all the talk about to legalize or not, and other politics around marijuana, you often miss out on discussions with the people behind the scenes working at medical marijuana dispensaries.

Arizona is one of the states that has taken the leap from illegal to legalizing medical marijuana. As of 2016, there are 130 dispensaries throughout Arizona. Desert Rose is tailored to serve medical card holders in the greater Phoenix area. In Arizona alone, more than $12 million dollars was collected from cardholders and dispensary fees in 2016 and we’re sure the rate is higher for 2017 with 31 new dispensaries added to the market around late fall of 2016. This makes medical marijuana an ideal business opportunity for those that can get in and a helpful resource to those with a medical marijuana card. With 130 dispensaries currently, it also means a dispensary has to stand out form the crowd in a useful way to the community.

MMX: Please tell us about Desert Rose.

JL: Desert Rose is a medical marijuana dispensary located in North Phoenix. Our philosophy is that patients come first, and medicine should be affordable which is why we offer everyday low pricing such as $18 eighths. Patients drive from all over the Phoenix area to come to our dispensary, not only because we have the best pricing in the state, but because we have a staff that is knowledgeable, caring and passionate about what they do. We do our best to ensure that every patient leaves here with the medicine they need at the most competitive price, and knowing that they are part of the Desert Rose family.

MMX: What makes Desert Rose different than other local dispensaries?

JL: Desert Rose is different in so many ways from other dispensaries. A few things that set us apart; our pricing, how we treat our customers, and our staff. We have the best pricing in the state, and we do it for our patients, so that they have access to affordable medicine. Also, our staff is happy to be here, and it shows in how they treat our patients.

MMX: What was your background before you got started in the MMJ industry?

JL: I’ve been in mainstream retail, both in store and in online for my entire career. I’ve worked with many large retailers to help them select their assortment for their stores as well as the marketing of new product campaigns to the public.

MMX: What drew you to the cannabis industry?

JL: I was drawn to the cannabis industry because of a few things.

As Amazon takes over the retail space, mainstream retail is dying and I saw a need to switch industries.

I saw the potential of growth and opportunity in an emerging medical marijuana market like Arizona

I’ve seen how the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes has helped so many patients

MMX: How has the industry changed in the years that you’ve been active?

JL: While Im still very new to this industry, in the short time Ive been in it Ive seen how so much has changed. Rules and regulations around marketing and advertising for this space are lightening up as it becomes less “taboo”. Ive also seen an overall acceptance to medical marijuana and people are less sensitive about the industry in general.

MMX: What are some of the biggest obstacles facing dispensaries right now?

JL: Some of the biggest obstacles dispensaries face right now is consistency in supply from our vendors. The demand is high and some vendors are not able to keep up. I also see some dispensaries struggling with keeping up with the expectations of patients while ensuring their pricing and product are fair.

MMX: What does the future of Desert Rose look like?

JL: The future of Desert Rose is bright! We are looking for new locations to expand to within the next year. We are also working on our own private branding. Stay tuned!

Founded in August 2016, Desert Rose opened their medical cannabis dispensary after studying the current state of medical marijuana in Arizona and inspired to improve upon the existing system. putting their patients first, Desert Rose wanted to go the extra mile to ascertain each of their medical marijuana products were pure, safe and efficient while striving to keep their costs as affordable as possible. Since they’ve opened their Phoenix cannabis dispensary, Desert Rose has grown to serve nearly 400 patients per day, retaining hundreds of customers due to their genuine care and compassion for their clientele. For more information about Desert Rose Dispensary, you can go to https://droseaz.com/.